ACSA Level One, 36 Albert Road, South Melbourne, Victoria 3205 Tel: (03) 9686 3460 www.agedcare.org.au
Media Release
October 21 2009
ACSA welcomes challenge to misleading data
National aged care peak body Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) has welcomed
the federal coalition’s challenge to potentially misleading data on the finances of nursing homes.
ACSA CEO Greg Mundy said Liberal senator Mathias Cormann’s remarks to the Senate
Estimates’ hearing reinforced industry concerns about inadequate funding for the sector.
The Opposition’s junior health spokesman questioned Department of Health and Ageing figures
suggesting that aged care providers could make a 10 per cent return on their investments,
based on the best performing 25 per cent.
Senator Cormann called on the department to re-examine the data which he said was at odds
with industry figures.
Mr Mundy agreed that it was vital that any data used to formulate new funding arrangements for
aged care was accurate and representative of all residential care.
“The top quartile includes facilities with multiple beds in one room, which can be a cost saving
measure, as well as those where residents pay for so called extra services,” he said. “On that
basis these figures do not give a clear picture of residential aged care in Australia, and do
reflect the services elderly people want..
“A 10 per cent return simply cannot be replicated across the whole residential care sector.
Unsustainable costs were behind the shortfall of almost 2,000 bed licenses in the most recent
round of allocations. And that means elderly Australians are the losers.
“The National Health and Hospital Reform Commission recommendations regarding aged care
and the impending review by the Productivity Commission are welcome and significant
measures to address the urgent reform needed in the industry.
“Reform can be a reality if everyone from all sides of politics, providers and consumers are
working from the same page with a view to ensuring elderly Australians will have the care and
services they need, how, when and where they want them.”
Media contact: Chris Hornsey 0419 513 432
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